Sooo SE actually wants to know the numbers of PS2 users eh?

[Arcon]

No, it is not. Because you need a hard drive unit to run it on X360 you're looking at greater than USD$250, more likely $300, to get that going. For a PC you'll probably be spending as much or more unless you have enough technical proficiency to put together your own computer from parts. That is not dirt cheap. If you think it is, then you probably need to re-evaluate your sense of scale.

Blah. You clearly haven't been reading this thread, and the other one specifically dedicated to finding cheap hardware. Computers that can run FFXI better than the PS2 ever will are available fully assembled from legitimate stores from $40 upwards (which I found out after a 30 seconds Google search for "cheap computers"). I posted links a few pages back.

Better question, how many of us "upgraded" from an NES to an SNES to continue playing Super Mario Brothers 3 or Zelda II: The Adventure of Link or FINAL FANTASY (I)? The answer is NOBODY. You upgraded to buy NEW (and presumably better) GAMES, not to keep playing the games you already owned.

Your analogy fits if you want to talk about going from FINAL FANTASY XI: Online to FINAL FANTASY XIV: Online. For FFXI alone, it does not match.

Again, blah. As we've said before, MMORPGs are different than other games. Did you play Super Mario Bros. 3 on the NES for eigth years? Can't be compared. FFXI evolves, it's not static. You can't possibly argue that the current FFXI is the same as the one eigth years ago (to scale, it has more than tripled in size since then). So again, no argument there.

[Volkai]

Blah. You clearly haven't been reading this thread, and the other one specifically dedicated to finding cheap hardware. Computers that can run FFXI better than the PS2 ever will are available fully assembled from legitimate stores from $40 upwards (which I found out after a 30 seconds Google search for "cheap computers"). I posted links a few pages back.

News to me. I've yet to see any computer worth using that is sold for less than USD$100. Especially one that includes, say, a monitor. If it doesn't come with everything you need to play FFXI, you have to add those extra parts piecemeal to the total cost, or else you're misreperesenting the cost involved.

Again, blah. As we've said before, MMORPGs are different than other games. Did you play Super Mario Bros. 3 on the NES for eigth years? Can't be compared. FFXI evolves, it's not static. You can't possibly argue that the current FFXI is the same as the one eigth years ago (to scale, it has more than tripled in size since then). So again, no argument there.

Actually I DID play Super Mario Bos. 3 on the NES for eight years. Similarly, I STILL play The Legend of Zelda: A Link to the Past on the SNES that I acquired in 1993. I like to play old games as well as new ones. Just like I STILL play FINAL FANTASY XI: Online.

The problem you have here is not with my refutation of Rayik's analogy, but with Rayik's analogy. Address that.

[FrankReynolds]

News to me. I've yet to see any computer worth using that is sold for less than USD$100. Especially one that includes, say, a monitor.

It doesn't really take a "computer worth using" to run this game at better than PS2 graphics. But there is a whole thread full of links to them if you'd care to look.

If it doesn't come with everything you need to play FFXI, you have to add those extra parts piecemeal to the total cost, or else you're misreperesenting the cost involved.

Most TVs have VGA inputs nowadays. There are cheap adapters for those that don't (If you feel so inclined to play on a really low res screen).

I don't know, if they came out with legend of zelda for PC, and it had new content but same game engine.... I'd probably want to play it. I don't think I'd get all butt hurt that it wont run on my 20 year old NES.

[Volkai]

It doesn't really take a "computer worth using" to run this game at better than PS2 graphics. But there is a whole thread full of links to them if you'd care to look.

In this context, "worth using" means "able to install and run FINAL FANTASY XI: Online and its expansions and add-ons Rise of the Zilart, Chains of Promathia, Treasures of Aht Urhgan, Wings of the Goddess, A Crystalline Prophecy, A Moogle Kupo d'Etat, A Shantotto Ascension, Vision of Abyssea, Scars of Abyssea, and Heroes of Abyssea* with enough performance as to be reasonably operable (which may be represented by statistics such as a frame rate of equal to or greater than 30 Frames Per Second**)".

* These all must be able to be installed and run because these are the client and expansions and add-ons currently available on PS2.
** The PS2 client operates at this frame rate.

Most TVs have VGA inputs nowadays. There are cheap adapters for those that don't (If you feel so inclined to play on a really low res screen).

Since we are speaking of players already operating using a PS2, you don't need to include the cost of a TV, but you will need to include the cost of such an adapter, or of a monitor. Also keep in mind that PS2 players may be using an older TV that only has a coaxial cable input.

I don't know, if they came out with legend of zelda for PC, and it had new content but same game engine.... I'd probably want to play it. I don't think I'd get all butt hurt that it wont run on my 20 year old NES.

That's a new release, not the same game. To make a proper analogy to FFXI, consider the Test Server. The FINAL FANTASY XI: Online Test Server client requires PC only. It is not available for PS2 or X360, and I take no issue with that. I doubt many PS2 or X360 players do -- though I have no evidence to back that up. But again, that is a new Client, not the same one already released.

It is not a problem to release a new client with additional content that is not available on PS2. It IS a problem to cut off access to the existing client and content that IS available on PS2.

Do you understand what I am saying here? Or do I need to clarify it further? Because I am willing to do so if it is necesary to ensure you understand the issue here.

[Gilraen]

Arguing with people who are wielding shovels and have a headstone with PS2's name on it is pointless. They don't really care about anyone but themselves so it's better to stand on your own opinions and experiences and acknowledgements. I freely acknowledge the limitations imposed by the PS2 version but that is the only version I swear by because of my experiences with both it and the PC version. I don't expect people to understand my decisions but I would appreciate it if people respected them. I'm not sitting here calling them out on their insistence on the PC version, after all. To each their own.

Just understand that if Square drops the PS2 it will have a negative impact on the community beyond just 'a handful of people'.

[FrankReynolds]

You guys try to make it sound like every PS2 player lives in a cave with no food and water and a crappy tube TV, Living solely off of the light rays emanated from FFXI on the screen.

[Leonlionheart]

Arguing with people who are wielding shovels and have a headstone with PS2's name on it is pointless. They don't really care about anyone but themselves so it's better to stand on your own opinions and experiences and acknowledgements. I freely acknowledge the limitations imposed by the PS2 version but that is the only version I swear by because of my experiences with both it and the PC version. I don't expect people to understand my decisions but I would appreciate it if people respected them. I'm not sitting here calling them out on their insistence on the PC version, after all. To each their own.

Just understand that if Square drops the PS2 it will have a negative impact on the community beyond just 'a handful of people'.

No, it won't. Because people play on PC.

I've known several people who switched over, and actually did say "WTF HAVE I BEEN DOING ALL THIS TIME GIMPING IT UP ON PS2?!"

[FrankReynolds]

What are you even talking about? Is this post intended to have no relevance?

It's relevant in the sense that you are trying to portray PS2 players as completely inept individuals who don't own computers, can't afford computers and are too Dumb to figure out how to get one even if they could. When the fact is that you are clinging to a console that you have gotten your moneys worth out of, and its holding back the rest of the community.

PS2 players are not all broke and horribly inconvenienced by having to buy these newfangled computer thingamajigs.

[Kimara]

No, it won't. Because people play on PC.

I've known several people who switched over, and actually did say "WTF HAVE I BEEN DOING ALL THIS TIME GIMPING IT UP ON PS2?!"

Agreed, ever since my husband switched to PC I have never seen him play on PS2 again. I converted him muahahahaha <3

[TybudX]

** The PS2 client operates at this frame rate.

So does everything else. The frame rate is capped across systems. It's part of the reason 10 year old hardware can play this game at more than 'max' settings.

Do you understand what I am saying here? Or do I need to clarify it further? Because I am willing to do so if it is necesary to ensure you understand the issue here.

And while you are, go look into a $60 laptop from 2006. It comes with everything you think you need to play the game, except your ps2 controller... which you already have. Anything else we're missing there, sport?

... it's better to stand on your own opinions and experiences and acknowledgements.